Trouble in Coal Country for Obama

Attack by Mine Workers' Chief and Anger in West Virginia Signal Larger Problems in Swing States

By

Andrew Grossman in Washington and

Kris Maher in Pittsburgh

Updated May 11, 2012 3:01 p.m. ET

Cecil Roberts, the president of the United Mine Workers of America, traveled the country for Barack Obama four years ago. He hoped to persuade skeptical working-class white voters in places like southwestern Virginia and southern Ohio to vote for an African-American with an unusual name.